SECAUCUS, NORTH BERGEN, AND JERSEY CITY – The New Jersey Meadowlands Commission (NJMC) Board of commissioners has approved a plan to use a $10 million federal grant from the U.S. Dept. of Transportation to modernize 128 intersections with traffic lights throughout the Meadowlands District, including 32 intersections in Secaucus.
The grant will enable New Jersey to implement the Meadowlands Adaptive Signal System for Traffic Reduction, which the NJMC promises will help boost the local economy by improving traffic flow through the region.
Specifically, the Adaptive Signal System uses traffic signal software, real-time vehicle image detection tools, and wireless communication to modernize and improve upon traffic lights. The timing of traffic signals will be adjusted based upon changing traffic flow.
At present most traffic signals in the region are controlled by outdated, 20-to-40-year-old hardware and pre-timed signal patterns that are out of sync with other nearby traffic lights, according to the NJMC. The state agency estimates the Adaptive Signal System will cut travel delays by 1.2 million hours per year, reduce gas consumption by more than 1.2 million gallons annually, and slash greenhouse gas emissions by more than 11,000 tons each year.
In addition to the 32 intersections in Secaucus, the grant will also be used to improve 23 intersections in North Bergen and 11 intersections in Jersey City. – E. Assata Wright